Arctic Monkeys' lead singer Alex TurnerAlex Turner of Arctic MonkeysIt's that time of year again and the contenders for the Nationwide Mercury Music Prize have been named.

And here they are...

Arctic Monkeys are the hot favourites to win with their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, alongside Radiohead's Thom Yorke and his first solo effort The Eraser.

Birmingham rockers Editors have also been named for The Back Room, as have Muse for Black Holes And Revelations.

Judges have hailed 2006 as "a rich year for musical excellence and creativity".

The full list of nominees is as follows:

Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not.
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Ballad Of The Broken Seas.
Editors - The Back Room.
Guillemots - Through The Windowpane.
Richard Hawley - Coles Corner.
Hot Chip - The Warning.
Muse - Black Holes And Revelations.
Zoe Rahman - Melting Pot.
Lou Rhodes - Beloved One.
Scritti Politti - White Bread, Black Beer.
Sway - This Is My Demo.
Thom Yorke - The Eraser.

The winner will be announced at the Mercury ceremony on 5th September 2006.